Police Chief Jon Golden could not hold back the tears, on January 26, moments after a resolution was read by Council, in honor of more than 30 years of serving and protecting the citizens of Macedonia.
On February 3, Golden will retire after more than two decades as chief. The January 26 Council meeting was the last in his official capacity.
“The resolution is for me and my career, but there are so many people that got me here,” Golden, who retires on February 3, said.
Golden started to speak, then paused as tears fell and his voice broke.
“I’m thankful for my family, the troops, Councilors, department heads, they’re the ones who got me here,” he said. “They did the work, not me. And the guys on the street – the difficult job they had. I owe a lot of people a lot of things.”
The chief also thanked his dispatchers for operating under stressful conditions.
Golden began his career as a full-time Macedonia Police officer on April 30, 1990, according to the city. He was promoted to sergeant eight years later and named the department’s youngest police chief on February 1, 2002.
“I remember where I sat at that first Council meeting,” Golden remembered as his voice broke with emotion.
“It was a long time ago,” Golden said. “But it seems like not yesterday, but not that long ago.”
The Council resolution credited Golden with working “closely with the Mayor’s Office, Department Heads, and various City staff to ensure that the Police Department provides the professional and courteous policing services that residents and businesses of the City of Macedonia have come to expect, rely on, and appreciate.”
Councilor Janet Tulley praised Golden for operating an open department and instituting 12-hour shifts. Prior to the shifts officers worked a floating-type schedule, she said.
“Now they know their shifts ahead of time, and can plan for family,” Tulley said. “He also did a lot of updating with the equipment and computers.”
Golden was a proponent of the Nixle alert system, she added. The system sends city-wide emergency alerts to residents signed up for the service.
“Anyone who has been here as long as I have remembers the fire sirens to tell you we had a problem, she said. “It’s interesting what has changed.”
Golden also instituted the Community Policing Program in which community and police work together on a variety of issues, Tulley said.
“He’s going to be sailing off into the sunset and go fishing,” Tulley said. “I’m trying to get my husband to go with him because they are both fishermen.”
Golden said he did plan on fishing and spending time with family.
The chief, who received a standing ovation from Council and the chamber called himself “very lucky” to have worked for the city of Macedonia.
“It’s been an adventure,” he said. “Thank you…just thank you.”
Legislation.
- An emergency ordinance was placed on second reading authorizing the mayor to enter into a contract with Lordstown EV Corporation for the purchase of a 2023 Endurance CCIL pickup truck for the city service department without the necessity of advertisement and formal bidding.
- A resolution was passed confirming the appointments to the Charter Review Commission. Members appointed by the mayor include: Vincent Milianta, Paul Bender, Luis Gonzalez, Julie Nicholson, Linda Biber, and Tom Dirmyer. Council member Jeff Garvas was elected to be Council representative.
- A resolution passed estimating the aggregating maximum amount of public funds to be awarded to Independence Bank for active and interim funds.
- An emergency ordinance passed ratifying the collective bargaining agreements for Police Dispatchers for the years 2023, 2024, and 2025 with the Ohio Patrolman’s Benevolent Association.
- An ordinance was placed on the first reading authorizing the mayor to agree to the donation of real property known as permanent parcels NOS. 33-00010, 33-00012, AND 33-03316.
